With a new spring under way, Illinois-based Preval is on a mission to combat the collapse of honeybee colonies while arming do-it-yourself gardeners with a tool to transform their work.

The introduction of the indoor/outdoor PreGro Plant Sprayer (MSRP $ 8.95) offers do-it-yourself gardeners limitless options to protect and nourish their indoor and outdoor plants in a careful, strategic way.

Retailers and consumers have pressed for alternatives to current limited application methods on the market, demanding more innovation in the lawn and garden industry. At the same time, local governments have begun to restrict spraying many chemicals because of the harmful effects of some insecticides, pesticides and herbicides. To satisfy these market demands, Preval developed the PreGro Plant Sprayer, providing consumers with consistent, precise and uniform spraying capabilities that makes it easy to tend to plants and gardens without affecting adjacent areas. The PreGro Plant Sprayer is completely customizable; it can be filled with any organic compound, natural solution, or chemical.

Why Preval Made PreGro

In developing the PreGro Plant Sprayer, the company considered pressing retailer concerns about aerosols prefilled with harmful chemicals limited to specific purposes. With the PreGro sprayer, the user can fill the sprayer with unlimited liquid solutions to combat a problem area and still achieve the consistent, precise and even spray of an aerosol.

Recent research has suggested neonicotinoids (a type of insecticide) play a role in the collapse of honey bee colonies. Specifically, two commonly used neonicotinoids have a high likelihood of triggering Colony Collapse Disorder, which involves bees abandoning their hives during the winter and ultimately dying, according to a study from Harvard School of Public Health published in 2014.

During the winter of 2013-2014, managed honey bee colonies nationwide (which play a vital role in U.S. agriculture) experienced total losses of 23.2 percent, according to an annual survey administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Bee Informed Partnership. These honey bee deaths present significant cause for concern, since approximately one out of every three mouthfuls in U.S. residents’ diets benefits either directly or indirectly from bee pollination, according to the USDA. This has caught the attention of some policymakers, who are seeking to restrict the use of insecticides. For instance, Oregon has created a state rule prohibiting the user of four bee-killing chemicals on lindens, basswood trees and related species, according to The Oregonian.

Furthermore, environmental friendliness is a growing priority for consumers, according to the report “Marketing to the Green Consumer U.S. March 2014” from the market research firm Mintel Group. Nearly four out of every 10 Americans (approximately 93 million people) report they’re dedicated to buying green products and services, according to the report.

Using the PreGro Sprayer to administer neonicotinoid-free solutions is one key way these environmentally conscious consumers can respond to the honey bee crisis while still keeping their gardens healthy. In addition to introducing the new sprayer, Preval has created a microsite to answer consumers’ questions about avoiding harsh chemicals and making their own organic solutions.

Additionally, PreGro is safer in handling toxins and harsher chemicals and designed with an ergonomically handle and trigger that easily attaches to the sprayer and minimize finger fatigue.

The PreGro Plant Sprayer should be first choice to for spraying insecticides like malathion, says Jim Sanford, industry expert and manufacturer representative. “It increases the safety factor dramatically.”

“From what we see in the field, there are so many uses for spraying on and around a plant problem area,” says Preval President Sam Averbuch. “Each PreGro Sprayer will apply roughly 120 square feet of even coverage, for commercial and domestic use. Many users pour from bulk containers and use our PreGro system for small-surface, precise applications. And DIYers have the ability to achieve the same precision and coverage with the homemade remedies many favor, such as pure lemon juice.”

The Many Uses of PreGro for the DIY Gardener

Spraying regularly can stop pests and diseases from harming lawns and gardens, according to the Lowe’s “Garden Sprayer Buying Guide.” A garden sprayer like PreGro can become an important tool, since it allows consumers to apply an exact amount of pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer, or another desired solution to a particular area. The following are just some of the ways PreGro can prove useful as a gardening aid:

Protecting plants. Use PreGro to eliminate the threat of common pests and diseases, ranging from black spot to blight to cutworms and caterpillars. The PreGro microsite offers do-it-yourself recipes for organic solutions to fix these problems. For instance, you can ward off cutworms and caterpillars with a mixture made from garlic, vegetable oil, liquid dish soap, and water.

Feeding and fertilizing. Consumers can also make use of PreGro to apply DIY liquid fertilizers, such as seaweed solution, rock phosphate, and nettle liquid fertilizing tea, among others. Creating homemade, organic liquid garden fertilizers is a low-cost option for gardeners looking to provide their plants with essential, easy-to-absorb nutrients, according to Burlington Permaculture, a Vermont-based urban agriculture group.

Preserving flowers. The PreGro Sprayer which comes fully pressurized and secures to a glass jar can also help consumers create dried flower arrangements, according to the American Rose Society. Use PreGro to apply denatured alcohol and Pro-Seal 2000 to a perfectly formed rose as part of the preservation process.

Whats Next for PreGro

While retailers adjust to developing government policies around current chemicals, the PreGro brings offers opportunities for customized applications. From pre-packaged liquid product to concentrated powder products, the PreGro is suitable for almost any soluble product.

The DIY possibilities of the PreGro Sprayer also extend beyond the garden, according to Love my home NZ, a New Zealand group focused on home care. It can be used to apply cleaning solutions to windows, counters and other surfaces, or to apply bleach to a mold-prone area.

Overall, the PreGro Sprayer offers a precise way for consumers to perform a variety of tasks. “PreGro is more about giving the user more spray options, and we believe lawn and garden retailers will appreciate new technology to meet the growing demand in this industry,” Averbuch says. “We are also seeing huge interest with the PreGro for indoor gardening because of how precise and easy to use it is.”

Where can I get information on health risks of pesticides I have in my home?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency at eps.gov, “EPA has a cooperative agreement with Oregon State University, which operates The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC). This center provides objective, science-based information about a variety of pesticide-related subjects, including pesticide products, recognition and management of pesticide poisonings, toxicology, and environmental chemistry. NPIC also lists state pesticide regulatory agencies, and provides links to their Web sites NPIC can be contacted at: 1-800-858-7378 or by email at npic(at)ace.orst(dot)edu. For more information, read the NPIC Fact Sheet.”

To learn more about the PreGro Plant Sprayer, please visit pregrosprayer.com.

About Preval

Preval focuses on solving consumer problems and making novel spraying products more accessible and effective for both novice and professional users worldwide. The company’s